Hicksville Kiwanis, Chamber Announce Fountain Project

Organizations seeking donations, volunteers for longtime park centerpiece

The Kiwanis Foundation of Hicksville and the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce have announced that the two organizations will coordinate the replacement of the Hicksville Memorial Fountain that was built with donations from Hicksville residents, businesses and friends of Hicksville and originally dedicated in 1979.

There was a renovation and rededication of the fountain in 1998 and the fountain has been a centerpiece in Kennedy Park on Broadway and Jerusalem Ave for the past 33 years.

Youth Services Coalition Rallies To Restore Funding

Monies eliminated for numerous county agencies

With no budget agreement in sight and numerous agencies now defunded, the Nassau County Youth Services Coalition once again rallied on Friday, July 6, at the Theodore Roosevelt Legislative Executive Building in Mineola to both protest the lack of inaction and to seek the restoration of lost funds.

In June, numerous youth agencies received notice that their county contracts would be cancelled and funding eliminated on July 5 if Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano’s fiscal recovery plan was not approved.

Hicksville BOE Reorganizes For 2012-13 School Year

During the July 3 Hicksville Board of Education meeting, the Hicksville School District trustees and administration reorganized for the official start of the 2012-13 school year.

Newly elected trustees Brenda Judson and Phil Heckler took the oath of office, which was administered by school district attorney Gary Steffanetta of Guercio & Guercio LLP. The swearing in of all trustees followed this.

Housing For Veterans Coming To Westbury

Converted commercial property to serve 200 veterans each year

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano stood in front of 689 Main Street in Westbury on July 3 to announce plans for the building to be converted to a veteran’s housing complex by early 2013.

Mangano said that Nassau County awarded a $1.5 million grant from Federal HOME Investment Partnerships to the New York Veterans Advocacy Group (NYVAG), a nonprofit organization that will operate the facility.

Hicksville-Jericho Rotary Installs New Officers

Rotarian Dr. Irwin Gross honored for 50 years of perfect attendance

The Rotary Club of Hicksville-Jericho installed its most recent president, officers and board of directors on June 28. Dr. James J. Bentson was inducted as the new president by fellow Rotarian Dr. Irwin Gross.

Also installed as executive officers by Dr. Gross were Elizabeth Goldfrank, vice president; Donna Rivera-Downey, secretary; and Gerry Poli, treasurer; Dr. James Bentson, past president and William Schuckmann, past president.

Hicksville High School Graduates Class Of 2012

More than 400 graduates bid farewell to school, classmates

The Hicksville High School commencement program on Sunday, June 24 celebrated the myriad achievements and accomplishments of the Class of 2012 with a traditional outdoor ceremony that focused on future success for more than 400 graduates.

“Hicksville High School has been a wonderful school for you and because of you,” said Superintendent of Schools Maureen K. Bright in her thoughtful address.

Legislators Fight To Avoid Costly Use Of New Voting Machines

Schimel, Martins spearheaded push to allow villages, school districts and special districts to continue to use lever voting machines

Reaching across the aisle, working together to save their constituents the considerable expense of a costly state mandate, New York State Senator Jack Martins and New York State Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel fought for legislation that they say “ensures the democratic process will go on in local communities without a costly mandate that would ultimately have to be borne by taxpayers.” The Republican state senator and the Democratic assemblywoman combined forces to pass legislation that allows villages, school districts and special districts to continue using lever voting machines as they have in the past for an additional two years. Without this legislation, local governments and school districts would be forced to purchase or rent electronic voting machines at an exorbitant cost or use paper ballots in conducting their local elections.

Police: New Cassel Man Attacks, Robs Hicksville Man, 68

Josue Bonilla, 23, charged with first-degree robbery and assault

Following what Third Squad Commanding Officer Ray Cote described as a “senseless and very disturbing” attack on a 68-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, Josue Bonilla, 23, of New Cassel, was charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree assault.

Cote said that on April 28, the 68-year-old victim, whose identity wasn’t released, wandered two-and-a-half miles from his residence in Hicksville to Grayson Street in New Cassel. Cote said Bonilla, at approximately 8:20 p.m., started kicking the victim and going through his pockets, while witnesses overheard the victim say, “I don’t have anything,” in Spanish.

Marine Corps Sergeant Majors Cup At Jones Beach

Nearly 90 Long Island Marine candidates compete

On Saturday, June 16 more than 600 United States Marines and candidates from 14 regional recruiting stations filled Zach’s Bay at Jones Beach for the annual Sergeant Majors Cup competition. Candidates waiting to deploy to boot camp, called “poolees,” arrived from across the New York City region, including Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, and Queens for the Long Island-hosted competition. The competition has been held for more than 10 years, each station taking turns hosting.

Some of the boot camp-style events that the Marine candidates participated in included: pull-ups, the water jug relay, ammo can relay, stretcher relay, and tug-of-war.

Boys & Girls Club In Danger Of Shutting Down

Executive Director Tom Bruno urging community members to call elected officials

 

Hicksville Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Tom Bruno has been through this sort of thing before.

In 2009, Nassau County told Bruno that funds designated for his organization would be halved. Three years later on June 4, Bruno received a similar notification, this time from County Executive Ed Mangano and Youth Bureau Director Maggie Malito.